An hour before practice was set to begin, dark clouds were already moving in. Photo: Kevin Dejewski
The NTT IndyCar Series is set to contest its final oval race of the year this weekend, but inclement weather has moved into the area and has put a hold on running.
Rain and lightning, both of which can quickly put a stop to the action for oval tracks, moved over the track just 30 minutes before the first practice session of the weekend was scheduled to get underway.
World Wide Technology raceway sits just outside St. Louis, Missouri, and is experiencing typical weather for the summer months. Which unfortunately includes strong storms from time to time.
Teams and Fans were advised to seek shelter from the lightning strikes in particular, and the entire paddock was sent into a waiting mode.
Practice, qualifying, and a warmup practice session are all scheduled for Saturday, so this delay will have a knock-on effect for the rest of the day.
IndyCar has yet to announce any plans for cancellation of any sessions, or if any additional sessions will take place Sunday morning before the race.
The day’s schedule will certainly be determined by how long the storms stay in the area and how long it takes to dry the 1.25-mile track.
For Sunday, the forecast shows the weather is expected to clear out with no disruptions.
Keyword: Opening IndyCar running from Gateway on hold due to weather